How to use the Most Confusing English Words Properly

Come or go? Is it affect, or effect? We’ve simplified the most confusing English words for you!

By now you might have noticed that English is a complex language, and it’s not just the grammar. Vocabulary has its own complications with many easily confused English words due to their similarity. There are usually two main reasons for these cases. The first is the old-age battle between American and British English – which means it’s a matter of preference and influence. Another common reason is that the concept doesn’t translate in other languages, making it slightly more difficult to comprehend. to make matters worse, there is often no logical pattern to follow either.

To help make your English learning process simpler, we’ve consulted our in-house teachers and compiled a list of the most commonly confused words. Thanks to our tips, you will never confuse these words again.

1.Come/Go

‘Come’ and ‘go’ have the same basic meaning, which is why they’re first on the list of easily confused English words. ‘Come’ is used to show movement toward the speaker or the person being spoken to. ‘Go’ Is used to show movement away from the speaker or the person being spoken to. So if you’re in Malta at the moment, and returning home in a week, you will say ‘I’m going home in a week’, while your family will say ‘(name)’s coming home next week.’

2. Affect/Effect

‘Affect’ means to influence or create an impression on something. ‘Effect’ is the thing that is created. Sounds confusing right? A simple way to remember the difference between these English words is that ‘Affect’ is almost always a verb, whereas ‘effect’ is almost always a noun. For example, ‘The weather affects (verb) my mood’, while, ‘The weather has an effect (noun) on my mood’.

3. Advice/Advise

While these are two of the most mixed-up English words by students, they’re also the simplest to understand. ‘Advice’ is the noun (a thing), ‘advise’ is the verb (An action). As in, ‘When you need medical advice, I advise you to go to a doctor, and not use google!’

4. Practice/Practise

These English words follow the same rule as advice/advise. Practice is the noun (thing), while practise is the verb (action). For example: ‘I’m starting a course at BELS because I need more practice in English’, and ‘While studying in Malta, I practise English every day!’

5. Since and For

These two are another classic amongst easily-confused English words. ‘Since’ and ‘For’ are both used to talk about something that started in the past and continues into the present. ‘For’ is used to express the amount of time (how long). ‘Since’ is used when specifying the starting point of something. For example, ‘I’ve been a married since 2000’ or ‘I’ve been married for 17 years’.

Is the difference between these confusing words clearer? Try writing some sentences using these English words and give them to your teacher to correct! Come back for more tips!

6. Among/Amongst

The difference between ‘among’ and ‘amongst’ is probably one of the most googled confusing English words. Technically these two words are both acceptable and can be used interchangeably. The difference is that ‘amongst’ has British origins, while ‘among’ has American origins. Today, ‘among’ is widely used around the world, and ‘amongst’ is a bit antiquated. So when unsure, just use ‘among’ – if you would like to impress a British national, go for ‘amongst’.

7. Learned / Learnt

This is another case of American vs. British English. ‘Learned’ is used in American English, while ‘learnt’ is the British English version (and you’ll often find comments that it’s the only correct version).

8. Dreamed / Dreamt

These pair are often confused even by native speakers. It follows the exact same explanation as above- ‘dreamed’ is the American version, whereas ‘dreamt’ is the British version.

9. Breath / Breathe

In this case, the difference refers to different forms of the same word. ‘Breath’ is a noun and refers to the air that goes in and out of your lungs when you breathe. See what we did there? Yes, that’s correct, ‘breathe’ is the verb version of the same root word and refers to the process of inhaling and exhaling.

10. Complement / Compliment

The difference between these English words is one of the more nerve-wrecking ones! ‘Complement’ is used to show that something works well with second object. For example, ‘Those shoes complement the bag’. On the other hand, a ‘compliment’ is a nice thing to say to another person. For example, ‘Jack received many compliments at his art show’.

11. Disinterested / Uninterested

This pair is probably the most controversial amongst all the confusing English words. In everyday language they are sometimes used interchangeably, however, according to grammatical rules, this is incorrect. While they both imply a lack of interest, they are not synonyms. ‘Uninterested’ means ‘not interested’, and ‘disinterested’ means impartial. Therefore, the opposite of ‘interested’ is ‘uninterested’.

12. Lay / Lie

In the present tense, ‘lay’ is a verb that means ‘to put or set something down’ – it is the action when someone does this to another object/person. A familiar example can be seen in how we use ‘to lay the table’ to describe preparing the table for dinner. Another example is when you put a baby in a cot, you ‘lay the baby down’. On the other hand, ‘lie’ is the verb that means ‘to be in a horizontal position’. So it can be used to say ‘I’m tired, I need to lie down or even, ‘He went to lie down because he’s tired’. The difference here is that ‘lie’ is something the individual puts themselves in a horizonal position, while ‘lay’ is when someone puts something else in a horizonal position.

Simple, right? The situation becomes a bit more complicated when you look at the different verb formats. You can read more about that here.

13. Lead / Led

This one is a bit simpler! The verb ‘to lead’ comes from the noun ‘leader’ and has the same meaning. An example can be seen in the following sentence: ‘A leader’s (noun) job is to lead (verb) their team to success!’. And ‘led’ is the past tense version, therefore ‘The coach led the team to victory’.

14. Read / Read

‘Read’ can be used as an adjective, a present tense verb, and also a past tense verb – yes they are all written the same exact way! Let’s start with the adjective – it is used to say someone is knowledgeable around a certain topic, for example, ‘Ada is well-read in French literature’. The verb ‘to read’ in the present tense and in the past tense is written exactly the same, but it’s pronounced differently, which can cause some confusion for English students. ‘To read’ in the present tense is pronounced as ‘/riːd/’ – ‘I read at least an hour a day’. While ‘read’ in the past tense is pronounced as ‘/rɛd/’ – ‘He read the article this morning’.  

15. Loose / Lose

These two have completely different meanings. ‘Loose’ is an adjective that means the opposite of ‘tight’. Whereas ‘lose’ means to ‘fail to win, to misplace, or to free oneself from someone or something’. Look at the following examples:

• ‘When he lost (past tense verb of ‘lose’) 20 kilos, all his old clothes were loose (adjective)’.
• ‘The team lost (verb the game in spite of all their training.’
• ‘I always lose (verb) my sunglasses when on holiday’.

Struggling to understand these confusing English words? Learn with a BELS teacher.

Self-study is a great start; however, language is a living thing and cultural and sociolinguistic elements play a large part in mastering a language. Unfortunately, spell-checkers and language tools are not much help here either. This is why you need a real-life teacher who can explain the context, difference between textbook language and real-life usage, as well as the elements of formal or informal language which influence speech.

Contact us to learn more about study trips in our schools in Malta and Gozo, or online lessons from anywhere in the world.

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What are the benefits of learning English?

Here are 10 ways you can benefit in life with learning English, and how BELS Malta can help you start your English-learning journey.

Richer travels, endless career opportunities and feeling at home with anyone, anywhere in the world. Read out the 10 new life opportunities you open yourself up to when you learn English.

1. It’s one of the most widely spoken languages

English is the official language of 53 countries and is spoken as a first language by around 400 million people spread across the world. Then there’s the ex-British colonies, most of which still recognise English as an official language. It adds up to approximately 400 million people who speak English as a first language, and 1,500 million who speak English. That’s a lot of countries to visit, and people to speak to.

2. You get more from travelling

When you need to communicate with someone abroad, the first thing you ask is usually “Do you speak English?”

Travelling in a country where you don’t speak the main language can be limiting. Whether you’re lost and need to be pointed in the right direction, or even if you’d like to have a chat with someone on the train. Apart from that most countries have signages and schedules in English in addition to their main language.

If you learn English, your communication won’t be limited; you could meet new people and learn about new cultures. Most importantly, you’re less likely to get lost or confused.

3. You can connect with more people

There are times when connections are instant – you share a look or a moment with someone and you become quick friends. But without speaking the same language, it’s difficult to have a deep and lasting connection. It’s not easy to share thoughts about intense topics and express yourself freely. At these times, language really does become a barrier between a light friendship and a genuine bond. If you learn English, you’re opening yourself up to millions of people and connections – a long-life friend, or even a soulmate.

4. Opens up a new world of literature, pop culture

Every language has beautiful literature – why limit yourself to one? Translations are never the same. The meaning, and sorry might be retained, but the way authors beautifully craft the language cannot be replicated. It’s also the language of the internet, memes, most commercial songs and Hollywood movies (and Netflix series!).

5. You can feel at home anywhere in the world

Relocating to a country when you’re able to speak English also makes things easier. While you might be able to get around a foreign land without speaking its language, longer stays can get tiresome and tedious if you have no idea what’s going on around you. When you learn English, you can settle down, work or retire anywhere in the world.

6. A new language leads to a new mindset

There’s a Czech idiom that says something along the lines of ‘you have as many personalities as the number of languages you speak’. Languages aren’t just words and grammar – they’re a living representation of the culture and the people. Different languages express the same concept in different ways. New idioms, new metaphors and new associations are all a part of learning a new language. So, when you learn English, you’re absorbing a new way of thinking and communicating. A new layer is added to your personality.

7. It’s the language of business

In today’s global world, any business needs English to survive. Anyone with excellent English skills will have the upper hand in the business environment. Learning English will boost your employment potential or help you get that promotion you’ve been dreaming of. Apart from that, if you learn English, you can apply for jobs internationally. You don’t have to worry about not finding a job related to your studies in your country.

8. And knowledge

Essentially, English is the language of the internet. It gives you access to major news portals, academic journals and publications, and personal blogs on an array of topics. Whether for personal use, studies or work, you’ll have access to more data if you learn English.

9. You can study at any university in the world

Since English is spoken in so many different countries, there are thousands of universities and colleges around the world that offer English study programmes. In addition, most of the world’s renowned universities are in English speaking countries. To join these universities, you usually need an IELTS score of 6 or 7 (which is equivalent to intermediate – upper intermediate level of English). Knowing English increases your chances of finding an appropriate school and course to follow your passion and reach your goals.

10. Learning a language is mentally stimulating

Learning a language is one of the best and practical ways to increase intelligence and keep your mind sharp. You’ll become a better decision-maker, multi-tasker, and generally more focused person. It also keeps your brain from ageing. It’s like a gym membership for your mind.

Start your English learning Journey with BELS Language Schools.

Take your English to the next level and join one of our boutique English schools on the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo. You can learn in an immersive way, on an English speaking island with a rich history and beautiful natural surroundings. As a student in our schools, you will be part of a welcoming student community, allowing you to make international friends and enrich your learning experience. Take our English placement test and we’ll get in touch to learn more about your goals and help map out a persoanlised learning plan just for you.

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An Online Lesson about Common Happiness Expressions in English

There are many ways to express happiness in English, with a variety of synonyms showing different degrees or categories of happiness. Once you’ve perfected the basics of English, it’s time to move on to the more intricate parts of the language and the way it is used by natives in everyday life. That leads to symbolism, idioms, expressions, and metaphors which can be somewhat confusing for a second language speaker.

Being able to share your feelings is a necessary skill in any language. Sometimes, it’s a difficult thing to do even in your first language. So, when it comes to a second language, it’s an area that deserves a lot of attention. In this online lessons, we’ll focus on happiness expressions in English.

Synonyms of Happy (Adjective) and Happiness (Noun)

While happiness expresses the general state, there is a selection of words that describe the conditions, origins or degree of happiness. Here’s a list of adjectives and nouns associated with happiness.

• Satisfied / Satisfaction – Happy and satisfied with the results of something, feeling accomplished.
• Pleased / Pleasant – Happy and satisfied with the outcome of something. An atmosphere that gives a sense of happiness and enjoyment.
• Glad / Gladness – Happy and pleased about something.
• Content / Contentment – Happy and satisfied with your life.
• Cheerful / Cheer – Behaving in a happy and friendly way, or a happy and friendly environment.
• Delighted / Delight – feeling or showing great pleasure and enjoyment.
• Joyful / Joy – To be beaming with happiness. A person who is continuously laughing and energetic, always in light and good mood. A situation that has a burst of happiness, laughter, and celebration.
• Blissful / Bliss – extremely happy, full of joy, and feeling at peace.
• Optimistic / Optimism – Hopeful and positive person.
• Euphoric / Euphoria – feeling intense excitement and happiness.
• Carefree / Carefreeness – Content, free from anxiety or responsibility.
• Exuberant / Exuberance– happy, excited, and full of energy

Here are 8 Common English Expressions about Happiness

1. On Top of the World

The height of happiness. When you’re on top of the world you feel wonderful, ecstatic, and elated. There’s no way you can feel happier.

Example: She’s passed her Cambridge English exam. She’s on top of the world!

2. On Cloud Nine

To be extremely happy or elated, it is often used when the feeling lasts long past the event that caused it.

Example: I’ve been on cloud nine ever since I landed my dream job.

3.  Happy go lucky

Somebody with a happy-go-lucky attitude is a generally cheerful person with little concern about the future. They lead a stress-free life and have a calm, laidback attitude. Example: They’re easy-going and live in the moment.

Example: He’s got a very happy-go-lucky approach to life and takes everything day by day. 

4. Over the moon

Excited and delighted – in a state of great happiness.

Example: He’s over the moon about being accepted to the university.

5. Cheer up

When you’re feeling down in the dumps, you need some cheering up! When you start to feel happy again, then you’re starting to cheer up. This phrasal verb is used to encourage people to be positive when they’re upset about something.

Example: Cheer up—things will get better!

6. Buzzed/ Hyped

To be full of excitement or activity, to be euphoric or very stimulated.

Example: He was buzzing with anticipation for the big game!

7. Grin from ear to ear

When somebody’s grinning from ear to ear, they’ve probably just received some really good news or experienced an important life event. It describes a very wide smile and an eagerness and excitement.

Example: He was grinning from ear to ear so we knew he had good news to tell us.

8. Full of the joys of Spring

Spring idioms and expressions are often used to show happiness. The association with Spring reflects energy, happiness, and feeling alive. This idiom is used to show that someone is walking around with a bounce in their step.

Example: How are you so full of the joys of spring at 6 am on a Monday morning!

9. A Happy Camper

A happy camper is someone who is happy in a situation, feeling content and satisfied. This English expression is often used to show unhappiness with a situation, in the negative form.

Example: All I need is good food, good company, and nature and I’m a happy camper.

Example: My favorite Indian restaurant in the neighbourhood just shut down, I’m not a happy camper.

10. In Good Spirits / In High Spirits

Used to show that someone is in a particularly energetic and lively mood.

Example: All the children were in high spirits on the last day of school.

Are you looking for more online lessons related to English expressions and idioms? Learn about idioms related to spring, winter idioms, and others that originated from Alice in Wonderland quotes.

Time to Practice! Use the 10 happiness expressions in English in the sentences below.

Tip: Apart from selecting the correct happiness expression, ensure the correct verb tense is selected.

1. After everyone left the party, both Alex and Carmen were ______________.
2. Everyone was _________ up about the Olympics, there were crowds for miles.
3. He bounced into the office, full of ___________
4. When I admitted I was wrong my mother just _________________
5. Most people see him as a _____________ guy without a care in the world.
6. He was over ___________ about the ratings.
7. He’s been on __________ ever since she agreed to marry him.
8. She’s just found out about the pay cut and she’s not a ________________.
9. My husband has been in a bad mood recently, but today he has ______________.
10. Two months before she gave birth to Jason, she left work feeling on _______________.

Answer key:

1. In good spirts / In high spirits.
2. Hyped up / Buzzed.
3. The joys of spring.
4. Grinned from ear to ear.
5. Happy-go-lucky.
6. the moon.
7. Cloud nine / Top of the world.
8. Happy camper.
9. Cheered up.
10. Top of the world / Cloud nine.

Master English Expressions (about happiness and much more) with Individual Lessons at BELS

Learning English on your own is a good start to perfect the basics. But you can’t stop there – to really master higher-level language, real-life interaction and use of the language is vital. This can be achieved through group or individual courses, as well as immersing yourself in an English-speaking environment.  BELS has the experience and tools needed to help you learn online, or provide an immersive learning experience at one of our schools in Malta and Gozo. Contact us to start your English learning journey.

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Here are 10 English Idioms Related to Spring

With the temperatures warming up, we’ve got a spring in our step and a couple of English idioms related to spring came to mind!

Spring is the season of activity and growth – as the weather warms up, trees and bushes begin to grow new leaves again and colorful flowers start to bloom. The days get longer, the nights get shorter, and most of us feel happier and more energised. It’s also a time that inspired many English idioms.

While you can find English idioms about every season, spring is the season with most English idioms. Most of the English idioms that are related to spring mirror the energetic and growing nature of springtime.

One of the best ways to remember English idioms is to put them in categories, so here are English idioms inspired by spring. Have you heard any of these English idioms before?

1. Spring into Action

This English idiom is used when something or someone is quiet and calm then suddenly becomes active and starts moving of working. It’s done quickly and with a energy or force.

‘The lifeguard sprang into action when he noticed the child drowning.’
‘Predators watch their prey silently spring into action in a moment’s notice.’

2. No spring chicken

When we say someone is a spring chicken it means they are young, youthful and full of energy just like the season implies. On the other hand, saying someone is no ‘spring chicken’ emphasizes that they are not young anymore and their abilities may show this. In other occasions it is used to show that although someone is old, they are still capable.

‘Ryan’s no spring chicken but he can still run as fast as people half his age’.
‘He looks pretty good considering he’s no spring chicken’.

3. A spring in someone’s step

This English idiom describes the way someone walks when they are full of energy and happy. Like a spring, they are bouncing off the ground. It usually shows that someone is feeling good.

‘We could tell she got hired for the new job because she walked out of the office with in spring in her step’.
‘He had a spring in his step after he won the lottery!’

4. To spring to mind

When something appears suddenly in your thoughts or you immediately think of someone or something. When someone mentions spring, all these English idioms will spring to mind!

‘When someone speaks of Italy, good wine and exquisite food springs to mind’.
‘Say the word ‘Paris’ and visions of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe spring to mind’.

5. To spring to life

To suddenly start moving and become very active or busy.

‘The town is quiet in the morning, but it suddenly springs to life around nine o’clock when the shops open.’
‘The clubbing scene springs to life after 10 o’clock’.

6. To spring out of something

To jump out of something or jump out at someone.

‘She wakes up in a great mood, springs out of bed every morning!’
‘A grasshopper sprang out at me when I was watering the plants.’

7. To spring something on someone

When you share news or an announcement on someone without any warning or context. You say something suddenly when it is not expected. Using this idiom implies that it would have been better to have a warning beforehand.

‘A good leader keeps employees informed of decisions along the way and doesn’t just spring it on them suddenly’.

8. To be full of the joys of spring

This is a British idiom used to say that someone is very lively, jolly and cheerful.

“How are you so full of the joys of spring at 6am on a Monday morning!”

9. Spring cleaning

To thoroughly clean a place, especially in springtime.

10. Spring fever

Spring fever is any change in mood or behavior which is experienced with the start or spring. Usually a feeling of restlessness and excitement because spring is coming, and the weather is getting warmer.

Spring English Idioms: Test yourself!

1. As soon as the boss came in the door, everyone ______________.
2. I don’t know how old Mike is, but obviously he is ______________.”
3. He’s had a __________ since he met Joanna.
4. Say the word “Australia” and a vision of beaches and blue seas immediately ____________.
5. After about eight o’clock the city _______________.
6. The cat ________ of the closet when I opened the door.
7. I hope he’s not going to _________ any crazy ideas  _____ us at the meeting this morning.
8. He bounced into the office, full of _______________.
9. I gave the kitchen a ____________ at the weekend.
10. ‘A few kids had ___________ and thought was a good reason to skip finals, but I went to school every single day.’

Did you use the Spring English idioms correctly? Have a look at the answers here:

1. sprung into action.
2. no spring chicken.
3. spring in his step.
4. spring to mind.
5. springs to life.
6. sprang out.
7. spring, onto.
8. the joys of spring.
9. spring clean.
10. spring fever.

Now try to learn English idioms related to other seasons: Winter English idioms.

 

Your Ultimate List of Christmas Songs in English for a Game Night

For many, the holidays are not complete without classical Christmas carols or catchy jingles. Some Christmas songs have become so popular and loved that they’ve been covered by numerous bands and in several languages. People are familiar with them no matter which part of the world they come from and which language they speak. We’ve memorized the lyrics, the meaning and the tune. That familiarity makes Christmas music a great way to learn English over some laughter with friends.

So get a group of your favourite people together, put on your cheesiest Christmas jumper and spend the evening singing along to some Christmas songs. After all science shows that the best kind of learning happens when you’re having fun. A little competition also helps!

Check out our list of Christmas songs in English, graded by level.

We’ve complied a list of classical and modern Christmas songs for learners of English. Each song has a quiz and some activities to test your English grammar and vocabulary. They’re separated according to level of English as well.

Not sure what your level is? Take our test.

Beginner and Elementary

• White Christmas by Lady Gaga – Gap fill listening quiz
• Happy Christmas, War is Over by John Lennon – Gap fill exercise
• All I want for Christmas by Justin Bieber & Mariah Carey – Multiple Choice Quiz
• It must be Santa by Bob Dylan – Multiple Choice Listening

Elementary and Pre-intermediate

• Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin’ Stevens – Multiple Choice Quiz
• Last Christmas by Wham – Gap fill Quiz
• Winter Wonderland by Sugarland – Grammar gap fill
• Let it Snow by Kylie Minogue – Listening and vocabulary quiz

Intermediate and Upper-intermediate 

• Shake up Christmas by Train – Multiple choice listening
• A Winter’s Tale by David Essex – Gap fill writing quiz
• Merry Christmas Baby by Christina Aguilera – Gap fill listening

Advanced

Try Christmas karaoke using the links below. Practice the original version of the song first and try to master it on karaoke.

• It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – Michael Buble
• Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Michael Buble
• I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Michael Bublé
• Holly Jolly Christmas – Michael Buble
• Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town – Frank Sinatra
• Santa’s Coming For Us – Sia

Looking for something even more challenging?

Listen to the songs below and try to write down the lyrics. You can listen to song three times to complete the activity. After that you have to share what you’ve written with your friend, and see who’s version is the most accurate.

• Christmas Lights – Coldplay
• Don’t Shoot Me Santa – The Killers
• Dirt Sledding ft. Ryan Pardey, Richard Dreyfuss – The Killers
• A Great Big Sled ft. Toni Halliday – The Killers
• Everyday Is Christmas – Sia
• Snowman – Sia
• Round and Round – Sia

Here’s our personal favorite:

 

Looking for more Christmas-themed ways to learn English? Discover the story of Christmas in English.

 

Learn how to use 10 Winter Idioms in everyday Conversation

With temperatures dropping, it’s the perfect time to snuggle up at home and learn some English idioms and phrases related to winter and cold weather. One of the best ways to learn new vocabulary is to put them in categories, so here are our favorite 10 English idioms and phrases inspired by cold weather. Notice how some of these aren’t related to the weather directly in meaning.

Here are the 10 most used winter idioms:

1. Bundle up

Before you can face the cold outside, you have to bundle up, which means to get dressed warmly and wrap yourself up.

2. To leave (someone) out in the cold

Leaving someone out in the cold is a mean thing to do! If you don’t include people in your group, you’re leaving them out in the cold. This refers to when you exclude someone from activities and conversations.

3. Cold hands, warm heart

You might be cold on the outside, but warm on the inside. . This idiom shows that even when people do not appear to show emotion, they might be very sensitive on the inside. Use it to express that someone who might seem distant on the outside is actually a caring and sensitive person in reality.

4. Snug as bug in a rug

When it’s cold outside, it’s best to stay wrapped up in and cosy a blanket, next to a fire with a warm beverage in hand, snug as a bug in a rug! This refers to when someone is covered up and tucked in tight in blankets, or in bed.

5. To give someone the cold shoulder

When someone makes you angry or upset, you need space and sometimes give them the silent treatment. This is expressed as saying you’re giving someone the cold shoulder. You might do this after a little fight – you ignore them to punish them, or until you calm down and can forgive them.

6. Blanket of snow

Just as a blanket is a thick covering, a blanket of snow refers to when it’s been snowing heavily and the ground is covered up with a thick layer of snow. It’s used to describe the scene after a heavy snowfall, like when you wake up in the morning after a night of snowing.

7. Break the ice

When you meet a new person, you have to break the ice. Before you manage to break the ice, it’s usually a bit quiet and awkward. It’s also used to describe situations, for example at a party, when no one is dancing and everyone looks bored – the first person to start dancing breaks the ice! The phrase is also used for activities in the beginning of meetings or workshops which are warmers – icebreakers (find someone who, two truths 1 lie, etc).

8. Walking on thin ice

As you can imagine, walking on thin ice is quite a risky and dangerous situation. Likewise, this idiom is used to convey that a situation someone is in quite risky. For example, if your boss is angry at you for coming into work late every day, then you ask to leave early, you’re walking on thin ice.

9. To run hot and cold

Cold and hot are opposites, and when you run hot and cold, you keep on having opposite thoughts! This is used to describe people who cannot make up their mind and are very indecisive about a situation. It’s also used to describe people who constantly change their feelings about something or someone. Like the famous Katy Perry song!

10. Under the weather

When you’re feeling under the weather, you’re feeling unwell or in low spirts. It’s used to express that someone is feeling sick or ill, usually to describe cold and flu symptoms that are common in winter.

Want to learn more phrases and idioms to use in Winter? Watch this video to see them used in context:

A Step-by-step Guide to Writing Professional Emails in English

Writing emails in English is an essential life skill that everyone needs to master. Nowadays emails are the single most common form of business communication. They’re fast, immediate and easily accessible. Often, due to the informal nature of the medium, it’s easy to slip into a casual tone in spite of communicating in professional contexts. Yet just like formal letter writing of bygone times, with professional email writing there are a set of rules and styles to follow. This is especially important when you’re representing your company’s image through business email

Checklist for Writing Formal Emails in English

Here are the main aspects to keep in mind.

1.  Writing effective subject lines

Think carefully and creatively about your subject line. It should capture the reader’s attention and at the same time, state the purpose of the email. The choice of subject line influences whether your email will be read, and the priority given. Apart from that it’s also relevant for effective search results if you ever wish to find a specific email easily. Some examples of effective subject lines include:

• Following up on today’s meeting
• Gentle reminder regarding payment
• Feedback needed on French report
• Updating website content

2. Using appropriate salutations

There are different levels of formality in professional email writing, depending on your relationship and purpose of email.

• To whom it may concern –  Use only when you do not know to whom you must address the email
• Dear Sir/Madam – Use when writing to a position without having a named contact.
• Dear Mr Martin – Use when writing to a named male contact.
• Dear Ms Martin – Use when writing to named female contact. Use for all women irrespective of marital status.
• Dear Dr Jones – Use when writing to a doctor or professor (university professors).
• Dear Andrea White – Type the whole name when you are unsure of the recipient’s gender.

3.  Writing the first line

We generally begin emails with a line explaining why we are writing. To people we already know, we can often begin with sentence starters like these in the image below:

All of these phrases in the first 4 columns can be used as sentence starters with business acquittances or colleagues. In the final column, you can see an example of possible endings.

4. Keeping it concise

Throughout a regular workday, people receive a countless amount of emails. Keeping emails short and direct will ensure that your email is read, easily digestible and answered in a timely manner. While doing so, it is also necessary to remain professional.

5. Use of Formal Language

The degree of formality that we use when writing to people depends on who we are writing to, how well we know them and the reason of writing. Generally speaking, more formal writing involves longer, more complex sentences, more multi-syllable words, fewer phrasal verbs, fewer contractions, and few abbreviations.

Here are a few examples of regular writing, changed into professional writing:

• It’s important > it is essential
• Ask > enquire
• At the moment > currently
• Before > previously
• Can you send me >  I wonder if it would be possible for you to forward me
• Hope to hear > I look forward to hearing from you soon.
• It’d be great > I would be most grateful if you could…
• On top of that >  furthermore
• We are sorry > we regret to inform you
• If you need help > should you require any assistance…
• If you cannot meet the deadline > in the event of any delay

5.  Having a clear purpose

Throughout the email use simple language, and linking words to explain yourself well. When you finish writing a professional email, re-read it and start removing extra information. Make sure it is clear to the reader what they need to do after reading the email.

6. Closing professional emails

The way we end emails depends on who we are writing to. Some endings are more common for formal emails, while others are more common for neutral or informal emails. When you’re writing to colleagues, you can use neutral endings if you are quite familiar with them. The same can be applied for business acquaintances, service providers or associations with whom you have great rapport.

Here are some examples:

• I look forward to hearing from you soon.
• I look forward to your reply.
• I look forward to receiving your feedback.
• Thank you for your time and consideration.
• Thank you in advance, looking forward to your feedback.
• I would appreciate a quick response.

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Top Tips for Successful Presentations in English

Have an upcoming presentation in English? This guide will help you prepare with soft skill tips, and language tips about English for presentations. We asked our teachers for key tips…here’s what they had to say!

1. Show your enthusiasm and relate to the audience

First of all, if you’re in a position where you have to deliver a presentation in English, your level of English must be quite high! So take a deep breath, it’s hard to perform well when you’re nervous. Connecting with an audience in your first language can be already be a challenge for some. Make sure you give this small-talk a priority in your planning – don’t just try to improvise. Use light jokes, puns and metaphors as you would in your mother tongue. Without these little practices you could come across as dull and robotic.

2. Watch TED talks in your area of expertise

TED talks are short and powerful talks that cover nearly all topics – from science to business to global and social issues. They are available in more than 100 languages, meaning you watch it your native language first, and in English after to learn how to express key concepts in English. As an added bonus you’re also observing some of the world’s top speakers and are sure to pick up some soft skills along the way.

3. Familiarise yourself with technical words

Every area of business has jargon that usually does not translate directly. In order to be taken seriously in the field, and to communicate properly, you have to know how technical words in your field are said in English. You can find business English online dictionaries for a variety of fields.

4. Acquire the functional language (English for presentations)

Apart from the buzzwords, you should learn functional business language. This will prepare you for giving a presentation and anything unexpected that can come up. Here are some common functional language topics needed for presentations:

Handling the first few minutes

First impressions last a lifetime. Learning useful phrases for greetings, welcoming people, introducing yourself or your colleagues and explaining the purpose of the presentation can make a big difference.

Organising what you want to say

If you cannot organise your presentation well, none of the content matters. Make sure you learn how to clearly say what you will talk about, saying when you will answer questions, and how to refer to these parts of your talk. Confusing your audience is the last thing you want – these parts of speech must be part of your business English studies.

Maintaining interest

Interactive presentations are the most successful kind. The last thing you want is to have your audience snoozing off. Learn ways how to engage your audience, asking them questions, checking that they are following and clarifying what you mean.

Dealing with problems and questions

Not everything always goes to plan – learning how to handle problems and questions is a must. Learn phrases required for apologising for causing some inconvenience, saying what you’re going to do to solve the problem (getting help, finding another laptop etc). Also learn how to ask someone to repeat a question and checking understanding.

Summarising and Concluding

You can find several sites that provide this functional business English online. The BELS e-learning platform has whole section dedicated entirely to business skills.

5. Write a script, find an audience

Use everything you learnt to write a script for your presentation. the language and buzzwords to create as script for your presentation. Once you feel, look for some people (or pets) to practice in front of. If needed, consult an English teacher or public speaking coach.

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